Condom Machines Are Taken In Stride

December 02, 1992|By Casey Banas.

DU PAGE COUNTY — The College of Du Page has received only a handful of complaints since installing condom vending machines in the men`s and women`s washrooms.

Since the machines were placed in September in eight washrooms in four buildings on the Glen Ellyn campus, Kay Nielsen, director of student affairs, has received only five letters of complaints from residents.

Some of the letters contended that condoms are not foolproof in warding off AIDS and the others have expressed concern that the college is promoting immoral behavior, she said.

``The college has a responsibility for the health and wellness of its students,`` Nielsen said. ``Our purpose is not to become a distribution center for condoms, but to focus on saving lives.``

The condom machines carry this message:

``The AIDS epidemic is a worldwide health crisis. The use of condoms, while not 100 percent effective in preventing disease, may save lives. The college neither approves or disapproves of any particular behavior, but provides this machine in hopes that persons will make lifesaving choices.``

So far, 425 condoms have been purchased in the men`s washrooms and 42 in the women`s washrooms.

Nielsen said she was surprised by the initial statistics.

``Usually women are the ones that purchase condoms,`` she said. ``Women tend to be the more responsible partner.``

The college has 36,000 students, and Nielsen said she is aware of only one student who has AIDS. She said others might have the disease, but the college has no requirement that it be reported.